Art Donovan Fantasy Football (ADFFL)
League Constitution
(Established August 1993, most recently updated August 24th, 2025)
Mission Statement:
The Art Donovan Fantasy Football League (ADFFL) seeks to be excellent in all that it does, inspires a love of football and friendship, and promotes respect for competition within a fun, but extremely competitive, inclusive, and brotherly environment.
I. Finances:
A franchise fee of $330 is due by the end of draft weekend each season, respectively. The money is paid directly to the Treasurer to cover entry fee, website fee, mailing fees, trophy fees, draft board fee, “Marty Money”, “Mini-Money”, NFL Pool Pick winner cash, NFL Survivor Pool winner cash, and all transactions for the year. Transactions are in the form of either: trades, free agent acquisitions, waiver wire claims, or injured reserve moves. “Marty Money” ($20) will be distributed to the owner whose team has the highest point total for each of the 14 weeks of the regular season. “Mini-Money” ($10) will be distributed to the owner whose team wins the weekly challenge. These challenges will be outlined at the season’s Draft Weekend by the Competition Committee. Fine money will be assessed for various and sundry reasons throughout the season and will be collected by the Treasurer. Total prize money will be distributed as follows:
-
- League Champion receives 50% of the total prize money
- 2nd place receives 25% of the total prize money
- 3rd place receives 5% of the total prize money
- Division Champion receives 5.0%
- Points Champion receives 5.0%
- Pool Pick Winner at the end of the season gets $0.33 per correct pick, to be paid out at the end of the season
- Survivor Pool Winner receives $5 times the number of successful weeks of their streak(ie. 9-week streak = $45). If multiple teams still in the hunt all go out in the same week, the pot is split (ie. 3 teams left standing all go out after a 9-week streak, each earns $15; $45/3).
II. Draft:
The draft style is a standard snake draft order determined by a lottery system. Each team’s logo will be placed in a sealed envelope and then randomly selected. The fi rst team name selected will then select their draft slot, ex. draft slot # 4. As the lottery proceeds, each subsequent team selected will select one of the remaining draft slots until all twelve teams have selected a draft slot. The composite draft order 1-12 will reverse each round thereafter (i.e. the team with the fi rst pick in the fi rst round will have the last pick in the second round). The draft consists of 15 rounds. Each team must draft at least one QB, two RB, two WR, one TE, one K, one LB, one DL, and one DB.
Each team has three (3) minutes to make a selection. If a franchise is not ready or it does not pick in the allotted time, the next team in the draft order has the right to select a player. Should this occur, the original team remains eligible to pick whenever they feel compelled, but at the risk of having other franchises select players in their 3-minute window. Once the team that was skipped, has provided their selection to the league, one of the Co-Commissioners will pause the draft clock, make the required selection, and restart the draft clock. This will occur each time a team is skipped.
After the draft concludes, free agent acquisition will open at a specifi c time designated by the Commissioner/s. They will give at least a 24 hour notice beforehand.
There is no retention of players on a year-to-year basis, (no franchise players). All off ensive and defensive players are eligible to be drafted each season. Once a player is drafted, his name is taken off the board and is ineligible to be drafted by another team.
III. Scoring:
A. Offensive Scoring:
- Off ensive players consist of players listed as: QB, RB, WR, TE, and K
- 6 points for all normal off ensive touchdowns (rushing, passing, or receiving) or plays on which kickoff returns, fake FGs, punt returns, or fake punts result in a TD by an off ensive player
- 1 point for every 10 yards rushing or receiving by any off ensive player
- 1 point for every 25 yards passing by any off ensive player
- Field goals count as a decimal value (i.e. 37 yard FG = 3.7 points)
- 1 point for a converted PAT by a K
- 2 points for any two-point conversion by any off ensive player
- 3 bonus points for a 100-199 yard rushing/receiving game by any off ensive player
- 6 bonus points for a 200+ yard rushing/receiving game by any off ensive player
- 3 bonus points for a 300-449 yard game by any off ensive player
- 6 bonus points for a 450+ yard game by any off ensive player
- (-2) points for an interception thrown by any off ensive player
- (-1) points for a fumble lost by any off ensive player
B. Defensive Scoring:
- Defensive players consist of players listed as: DL, LB, or DB.
- These players can not contribute off ensively, just as off ensive players can not contribute defensively.
- Defensive players can score points on special teams with respect to TDs including: interceptions, fumbles returned for a TD, and blocked FGs or punts returned for TDs.
- 6 points for each defensive touchdown
- 4 points for each defensive interception
- 4 points for each forced fumble
- 3 points for each defensive sack
- 2 points for each fumble recovery
- 2 points for each safety recorded
- 1 point for each solo tackle
IV. Lineups:
Each owner must call one of the Co-Commissioners or set their starting lineup on the League website by game time of the player’s individual game. If one player slot is available and two players are available for a Sunday late, Sunday night, or Monday night game, one must be declared before kickoff of that game. A player cannot be claimed via waivers and start after noon (CT) on the Sunday of a given week. After the waiver period starts at noon Week 1, all players who play in pre-Sunday games (commonly Thursday, Saturday) will enter the waiver period once their games kick-off and they will be locked and unable to drop until all games are finished for that week. They will not be available for first-come, first-serve after their games kick-off. They will be available for waiver claims that will process on Wednesday at 8 pm CT. Delays of games (weather, etc.), will not allow a lineup to be changed. That is, scheduled game times are when lineups are due. If lineups are neither called in nor submitted for a given week, the previous week’s lineup is used. A fine of $25 will be levied on any illegal lineups.
There are six lineup options that can be played each week (listed below):
- The Wishbone 1 QB, 3 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DL, 1 LB, 1 DB
- The Veer 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DL, 1 LB, 1 DB
- The Run and Shoot 1 QB, 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DL, 1 LB, 1 DB
- The Heavy I 1 QB, 2 RB, 1 WR, 2 TE, 1 K, 1 DL, 1 LB, 1 DB
- The Single Wing 1 QB, 1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE, 1 K, 1 DL, 1 LB, 1 DB
- The Jumbo 1 QB, 1 RB, 1 WR, 3 TE, 1 K, 1 DL, 1 LB, 1 DB
V. Roster:
Each team can only have 18 active players on their team at any time. Each team roster must consist of 12 off ensive players and 6 defensive players. Between the draft and Week 1, each team can fi ll out their defensive roster with 1 player for each position as only three (3) defensive players are drafted. If a new player is acquired, a diff erent player must either be released or placed on injured reserve. A player can be put on injured reserve if the NFL injury report lists him as “out” or “doubtful” or if there is overwhelming evidence that the player will not play in the upcoming game. The league scoring website will be utilized as the offi cial site to determine IR status of each player. In addition, if a player was injured and declared out during their game, the owner can petition the Co-Commissioner to place that player on IR. The Co-Commissioners will review the existing available information and make a best-informed decision..
Rosters must conform to the following minimum requirements at all times and these requirements only pertain to Active players (not IR or Taxi squad). Each roster must have a minimum of one (1) player at each off ensive and defensive position. A team cannot carry more than two (2) defensive players at the same position, (i.e. three LB’s are not allowed).
Any player not on the NFL inactive list prior to game-time must be activated. If a player is out for multiple weeks, then returns to full-health (game active and participates in that game), that player must either be activated or released within 24 hours of game time. If he is activated and not released, another player must be released and the roster pared to 18 active players. If a player is inactive for more than one game, that player does not have to be activated until after they participate in an NFL game. Any team that illegally acquires a player or does not have a legal roster will be fi ned $25. This may also result in the loss of the player in question. Teams have the ability to IR two players regardless of off ensive or defensive designations at any time, assuming the player(s) is/are inactive for NFL games.
Players suspended by the NFL are ineligible to be placed on IR. The “Kicker switch” is permitted when a franchise’s kicker is on a bye week of the NFL schedule. Teams are allowed to acquire a replacement kicker for that week and place the original kicker on the “Taxi Squad.” At the end of the week’s games, an owner must either release the pick-up, or the original kicker. This move does not count against the “IR” allotment of two players.
A. Playoff Roster IR:
Any players that were not on your active roster including IR at the start of Week 14 games will not be available for an IR slot for Week 15 and they must either be activated or released. In other words, picking up a player between Week 14 & Week 15 and putting them on IR is not allowed.
B. Playoff Roster:
At the end of the regular season, a 3-round roster expansion draft will occur for the teams that made the “Art” playoff s. All free agents, despite off ensive or defensive positions, are available for the expansion draft. All “JV” playoff team rosters are locked to avoid adding to the free agent pool. At the end of the draft, each participating team shall have a minimum of two TEs and two Ks on their roster. The expansion draft will be executed using the Snake method. The teams will be ranked from 1 thru 6 by remaining FAAB dollars. The team with the highest remaining FAAB will be # 1, the lowest remaining FAAB, # 6. Ties will be broken by the standard league tie-breakers, with the better team getting the higher expansion draft slot. The draft would take place the Wednesday evening of Week 15, either by virtual call or by group text message. (Note: Waivers for Week 15 will be processed at an earlier time (TBD) that day and the draft will start at 8 pm (CT) and be completed by 9:30 pm (CT)). If a team has two healthy players at the same position (QB, RB, WR, TE, IDPs) that go down to injury, a franchise can petition the Co-Commissioners to pick up the backup from the injured player’s team (ie. Jim Kelly and Warren Moon go down in week 14. Team can choose BUF or HOU backup).
VI. Player Acquisition:
Player pickups are fi rst come, fi rst serve until 12:00 noon (CT) of Week 1. After Week 1, each week will be split into two transaction periods. From noon Sunday until Wednesday at 7:59 pm (CT), each team will submit their transactions online via a FAAB system. Each team will be granted a total FAAB budget of $180 ($10 per roster slot). For each week, bids will be placed for individual players using a dollar value within their remaining FAAB budget. All bids will be in whole dollars, i.e. $1, $20, $50, etc. The team with the highest bid for a player will be awarded that player. If there is a tie in the bid process, the player will be awarded to the team via the standard league tiebreaker rules. At 8:00 pm (CT) on Wednesday, waivers will be processed. From 8:01 pm (CT) Wednesday until Sunday at noon, transactions again become fi rst come, fi rst serve. The FAAB period will run from Week 1 through Week 15, which is the fi rst week of the playoff s. When a team runs out of FAAB money, they can still participate in the waiver process using a $0 bid. Again, if multiple $0 bids are used for the same player, standard tiebreaker rules will be followed. FAAB money cannot be traded. Due to the playoff expansion draft that will happen after the Week 15 FAAB process, the fi rst come fi rst serve time will be delayed until 10 pm (CT) on that Wednesday. This will allow the expansion draft to be completed and the results entered into the website.
Trades can be made at any time during the week, but teams must allow 24 hours prior to kickoff . Trades made less than 24 hours before the Sunday noon (CT) kickoff will have to: 1) gain approval from the Competition Committee, 2) wait one week before the players swap teams, and 3) assuming the Committee approves the trade and if those players happen to be injured in between, the trade will still be valid.
After the waiver period starts at noon (CT) Week 1, all players who play in pre-Sunday games (commonly Thursday, Saturday) will enter the waiver period once their games kick-off . They will not be available for fi rst-come, fi rst-serve waivers after their games kick-off . They will be available for waiver claims that are processed on Wednesday at 8 pm (CT).
VII. Trading Deadline:
ADFFL trading deadline is Sunday at noon (CT) of Week 14. Player pickup deadline is Sunday 12:00 pm (CT) of Week 15 (fi rst week of playoff s). All playoff rosters must be set at the start of the playoff s. No player can be picked up after, unless they petition the Co-Commissioners.
VIII. Division alignment:
| The Red Pots Division |
12th Man Division |
Wrecking Crew Division |
|---|---|---|
| Terminators | Milwaukee’s Beast | Rush’n Attack |
| Hello Nasty | Junction Ballers | Wild Irish Laddies |
| The Blue Monster | Arizona Shockers | Park Bullies |
| JetSuck | NWHo’ Train | HeadHunters |
IX. Regular Season
The regular season is 14 weeks in length. Each team plays the teams in its own division twice (total of 6 games), and plays the teams in the other divisions once (total of 8 games). The playoffs begin in Week 15 and last through Week 17.
X. Tie Breakers:
Game
Should a game end in a tie (including playoff games), the following system and order shall be used to break that tie: 1) total defensive points, total team touchdowns, 3) total team bonus points, 4) top individual point performer, and 5) coin flip.
Division
If two teams in the same Division are tied, the following system and order shall be used to
break ties and determine the higher seed:
- Head-to-head
- Overall Division record
- Total points scored in the regular season.
- Power Rank
League
*League tiebreaker rules will only be needed to determine seeds #1 and #2. The rest of the seeding will be decided by Section XI. Playoffs below. If Division winners are tied, the following system and orders shall be used to determine the higher seed seed:
- Total points scored in the regular season
- Head-to-Head
- Power Rank
XI. Playoffs:
Six teams (#1 through #6 seed) make the League Championship playoffs and the next six teams (#7 through #12 seed) participate in the JV playoffs. The worst team (#12 seed), based on the overall record, will be the Sticker/Beer bitch at draft the following year. If there are more than one team tied with the worst record then tiebreaker rules will decide who is the #11 and #12 seed and they will play in week 15 to determine who will be the worst team (#12 seed).
Top top 2 Division winners, which were decided by the Division tiebreakers, will receive an automatic playoff bid and will also be #1 and #2 seeds, based on the League tiebreaker rules as follows:
- Overall Record
- Total points scored in the regular season
- Head-to-Head
- Power Rank
The remaining teams (#3 through #12 seed) are then seeded as follows:
- Overall Record
- Total points scored in the regular season
- Head-to-Head
- Power Rank
| Round/Week | League Championship | JV Playoffs (Cheerleader) |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1, Week 15 | 1 & 2 seed: (bye) 3 vs. 6 4 vs. 5 |
7 amp; 8 seed (bye) 9 vs. 12 10 vs. 11 |
| Round 2, Week 16 | 1 vs. lowest remaining seed 2 vs. highest remaining seed |
7 vs. lowest remaining seed 8 vs. highest remaining seed |
| Round 3, Week 17 | ADFFL Championship | JV Championship |
XII. Competition Committee:
The competition committee is composed of three members of the League and two (2) alternates. The Co-Commissioners will delegate any competition committee meetings. The committee will address issues brought to the League’s attention. These might include: trades, rules violations, or disputes between owners. If an issue is deemed important to the League, the committee can administer a vote on the issue involving all team owners. If one of the members of the committee is involved in a matter being discussed, one of the alternates will serve as a replacement. Committee members must have at least three years of experience in the ADFFL and will rotate on a yearly basis. The 2024 competition committee is Troy, Grover, and Matt, with Jason H. and Nic as alternates.
After any vote or decision made by this group, the Competition Committee will send a league-wide communication as to their decision/finding/ruling.
XIII. Pro Bowl:
Each year during week 18, the three Divisions square off for bragging rights. The team owner in each respective Division with the best record, but who did not make the championship playoffs, selects rosters for these squads. That owner will submit a full, legal lineup with the only stipulation that at least one player from each ADFFL ranchise within the Division be selected to this all-star squad
XIV. Draft Weekend:
Each year the League will conduct its annual draft weekend. The location of this weekend is determined by league-wide discussion and vote. The purpose of the weekend is to convene for community bonding and frolic, conduct the lottery for that year’s draft, and to complete the draft. Further, the League will have numerous meals together, discuss the future of the ADFFL, and partake in annual rituals. The League will also have at least one activity that is germane to that draft location (fishing, historical sites, ball games, rafting, etc.).
Owners are required to attend the weekend, unless a family emergency precludes them from doing so. Owners are required to be in town by 6 pm local time on Friday of the weekend, and can leave no earlier than 4 pm on Sunday.
To be fair to all owners, the dues for the house will be evenly split between all franchises, regardless if the owner attends or not. Due to location not always being confirmed on the same date each year, expect to pay this by April 1 of the new calendar year. Once the location is confirmed, a deadline for these dues is sent to all owners.
XV. Post-Season Banquet:
Sometime before April after each season, all owners will convene for a League dinner. At this time, the Co-Commissioners will present all trophies and awards to their respective owners. Awards include:
- The Art – Awarded annually to the overall League Champion as determined by the game between the two remaining teams of the Art Bracket during Week 17.
- Points Championship Trophy – Awarded to the franchise with the most total points scored through the ADFFL regular season (through Week 14).
- The Bobblehead Trophy – Awarded to the winner of the Week 17 game of the Art Bracket between the losers of the Week 16 semifinals (3rd place overall).
- The Cheerleader Trophy – Awarded to the winner of the JV Bracket Tournament, as determined by the outcome of the Week 17 game between the top two remaining teams from the JV Bracket.
- Jerry Rice Trophy – Competition Committee selects up to 10 nominees for Offensive MVP across all positions. All owners then vote, using a weighted point system, and the highest player is awarded the MVP. Note: CC will establish the point system and implement it.
- Lawrence Taylor Trophy – Awarded to the franchise with the player who is the ADFFL’s Defensive MVP, as determined by total points scored during the regular season (through Week 14).
- Wrecking Crew Division Championship Trophy – Awarded to the team with the best regular season record within the Wrecking Crew Division.
- 12th Man Division Championship Trophy – Awarded to the team with the best regular season record within the 12th Man Division.
- The Red Pots Division Championship Trophy – Awarded to the team with the best regular season record within The Red Pots Division.
- Founders Cup – Awarded to the winner of the Week game between the Milwaukee’s Beast and the Rush’n Attack.
- Ahman “Blue” Green Trophy – Awarded to the owner of the player who is named the Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player.
- Other historic or achievement awards – Given as deemed appropriate by the Co-Commissioners.
- Individual player awards are given to the player who accumulates the most points at a given position (as a starter) during the regular season schedule. The awards are as follows:
- Dan Marino Award – Best Quarterback
- Walter Payton Award – Best Running Back
- Herman Moore Award – Best Wide Receiver
- Ben Coates Award – Best Tight End
- Morten Andersen Award – Best Kicker
- Reggie White Award – Best Defensive Lineman
- Junior Seau Award – Best Linebacker
- Deion Sanders Award – Best Defensive Back
XVI. ADFFL Hall of Fame:
After a player has officially retired from the NFL for more than one (1) year, they are eligible to be enshrined in the ADFFL Hall of Fame. Based on their body of work and excellence on the field, players are voted on in the late spring to earn immortality in the annals of the league. Enshrined players will have a framed photo hung at the home office in McKinney, Texas and their bio, lifetime stats, and history will be displayed on the league’s website.